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¹ Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the ^[a]Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. ² And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not ^[b]fit that we should forsake the word of God, and ^[c]serve tables. ^3 [d]Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. ⁴ But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word. ⁵ And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch; ⁶ whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them.

⁷ And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

⁸ And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue called the synagogue of the ^[e]Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. ¹⁰ And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake. ¹¹ Then they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. ¹² And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the council, ¹³ and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law: ¹⁴ for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us. ¹⁵ And all that sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.